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Dalit women are often victims of a double whammy – where caste and gender prejudice come together in vicious sexual violence.
Caste based violence is both rampant and under-reported in India. Yet, most media coverage on caste based violence tends to be spotty, focusing on individual cases of the worst kind, but rarely having any sustained coverage.
Most large media with newsrooms for instance, will have a regular columnist who writes in-depth analyses of gender-based issues, but rarely one who focuses on caste in the same way.
Currently, there are massive Dalit rallies underway in Gujarat, to demand an end to caste based oppression, which many of us know very little about. However, a quick search on any social media platform, using the hashtag #ChaloUna will put you in possession of the facts.
The more democratised social media space has allowed for handles such as @DalitWomenFight, @Dalitdiva and @DalitCamera to tell their own stories rather than having to wait for others to offer them space.
Very briefly: Four Dalit young men were beaten up publicly at Una in Gujarat recently by ‘gau rakshaks’. Since then Dalit communities across Gujarat have come together, taken pledges to not skin dead cattle (leaving it to those who call the cow their mother), and are demanding land instead, to enable them to live with dignity. They are also demanding a government serious about ending caste based violence.
Women have been a significant part of these protests at many locations, and are not only participating, but also leading their communities.
If we are serious about justice and dignity for all women (and men), and not just for upper-caste/class women, we should all be cheering on #ChaloUna.
I’ll leave you here with a few inspiring images of women’s leadership and participation at these rallies, as also an older video about a documentary that highlights how women have taken the lead.
inspiring #ChaloUna fight and amazing Dalit women marching against caste. from @dalitwomenfight and Manisha Mashaal pic.twitter.com/CzCVK6p1cF — Dhrubo Jyoti (@dhrubo127) August 11, 2016
inspiring #ChaloUna fight and amazing Dalit women marching against caste. from @dalitwomenfight and Manisha Mashaal pic.twitter.com/CzCVK6p1cF
— Dhrubo Jyoti (@dhrubo127) August 11, 2016
#ChaloUna #AzadiKooch 3rdDay Dalit March 7Aug2016 #DalitSangharsh @DasBolshevik @ndtv @scroll_in @scribe_it @nytimes pic.twitter.com/t6BgZzRJp7 — Ajnabi (@ajnabi_guy) August 7, 2016
#ChaloUna #AzadiKooch 3rdDay Dalit March 7Aug2016 #DalitSangharsh @DasBolshevik @ndtv @scroll_in @scribe_it @nytimes pic.twitter.com/t6BgZzRJp7
— Ajnabi (@ajnabi_guy) August 7, 2016
#ChaloUna #AzadiKooch 2ndDay 6Aug2016 #DalitSangharsh @dalityuvadal @DalitRising @dsmmanch @DasBolshevik @scribe_it pic.twitter.com/VxIw9IOH30 — Ajnabi (@ajnabi_guy) August 6, 2016
#ChaloUna #AzadiKooch 2ndDay 6Aug2016 #DalitSangharsh @dalityuvadal @DalitRising @dsmmanch @DasBolshevik @scribe_it pic.twitter.com/VxIw9IOH30
— Ajnabi (@ajnabi_guy) August 6, 2016
Get ready! #chalouna pic.twitter.com/2tY32fzHKY — Dalit Camera (@DalitCamera) August 11, 2016
Get ready! #chalouna pic.twitter.com/2tY32fzHKY
— Dalit Camera (@DalitCamera) August 11, 2016
The top image is from the #DalitWomenFight exhibit that toured the U.S courtesy their Facebook page
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People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
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